Ignition device



April 3, 1934. H. 1.; HARTZELL IGNITION DEVICE Filed May 28, 1930 rv m W 1 H 3 1- F O w w w M "w M Q m r a x O O 2 J 07 r w 7 2 0 T Q. 6 Z w Patented Apr. 3, 1934 PAT Herman lit Hartzell, Anderson, lnd.., assignor to Delco -Remy @ornoration, Anderson, End a cor= poration oi lllelawore Application liilay 2d, lildii, Serial No 456,513

8 Chin 'lhis invention relates to improvements ig nition devices for internal combustion engines. It is among the objects of the present invention toprovide an ignition device adapted to facilitate startingor' the engine.

Another object of the present invention is to I provide an ignition device in which the primary circuit of an ignition coil is controlled to provide a more intense sparking impulse during the (inlo gine cranking operation than while the engine is self-operating, thereby facilitating the starting operation.

Further objects and advantages the present invention will be apparent from the iohowmg de= 5 'scription, reference being had to the accompany ing drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form or the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing: Fig. l is a side view of the ignition coil, the

spool including the windings being shown sec= tion. e

g, 2 is a plan view oi the ignition coil, the spool including the windings being shown see tion.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the vari ous elements of the device and their electrical connections.

l is a View similar to Fig, 3, showing how== ever, a modified form of the ignition device.

The ignition device of the present invention includes an ignition coil which has a field frame 20 made up of laminations and which provides a core 21 also constructed of laminated, magnetic material. Upon this core is supported the spool of the ignition coil which includes the primary winding 23 and the secondary winding 24. A resistance winding 25 is connected in series with the primary winding 23 of the ignition coil.

The ignition device also includes a distributing element 26 to which the secondary winding 24 is connected. This distributing element directs the sparkingimpulses from the ignition coil to the proper engine cylinders. A circuit interrupter or controller 27, driven by the engine, has one side thereof connected to the primary 23 through the wire 28, the other side of said circuit interrupter being connected with the ground 30. 4

An electromagnetic switch is provided in con= nection with the ignition coil, said switch comprising a bracket 35 having an arm 36 supporting stationary contact 37. This arm 36 is proper- 1y insulated from the bracket 35. A spring blade '38 carries the movable contact 39, said "spring being attached to the magnetic field frame 20 of the coil so that said field frame provides also a magnetic field for the electromagneticswitch. 0n the bracket 35 there is carried a core 40 provided with. a winding 41. One end of this is electrically connected with the bracket 35, the other end with the arm 36. It will be noted that sprin blade 38 normally maintains its contact 39 in engagement with the contact 37 so that the resistance winding 25 which, as is shown in 3, is connected across the contacts 37 and 39, is normally short circuited by said closed contacts.

The engine is provided with a starting motor so, one side of which is connected with the stor age battery or source of current 51 tln'ough wire 52, the other side or said motor being connected to one side of the starting motor switch 53, which is grounded also as at 30. One side of the hat teiy is grounded as at 30. A generator 55, adapt ed to be driven by the engine, is connected to one side of the cutout relay 56, the other side leading to the battery 5. through the wire 57. The

opposite side of the generator is grounded as at so. The generator has a field winding designated e numeral 58. The wire 57 leading from. the cry 51 is connected to one side of the ignition switch to through the wire 61, the other side oi said switch heing connected through wire with the arm to supporting the stationary contact 3? of the electromagnetic switch.

The object of this invention, as has been stated, is to facilitate starting. In the present invention tide is done by cutting a resistance wmding out of the prmary circuit of the ignition coil during the cranking operation, said resistance when in circuit with the primary winding of the one coil substantially choking the flow of. current through said primary circuit. -When the operator wishes to start his engine, switch 60 is closed to connect the storage battery with the ignition coil. The starting switch 53 will then be closed, permitting current to flow from the battery 51 through'wire 52, motor'50, across the switch 53 gine.

back to the battery via the ground connections 30. Rotation of the motor 50 will crank the en- 'I'he following ignition circuit will be es? tablished: from the battery 51 through wires 57 and 61, across the switch 60, throughwire 62, across the contacts 37 and 39, spring blade 38 which is insulated from the core 21 of the coil, through the primary winding 23, wire 28, across the circuit interrupter 2'7 back to the battery via the ground connections 30. The winding 41 of the electromagnetic switch is also in circuit, the wire 62 being connected with arm 36, one side of the coil 41 being connected to this arm also, while the engine cranking operation said inserting means comprising a pair of separable contacts in circuit with the booster Winding, and the electromagnet operable upon one of the contacts, and means for energizing the electromagnet when the transformer alone is operatively connected with the current source.

6. In an electrical system for an automotive engine having an ignition circuit, a starting inotor circuit, and a source of current supply common to both circuits the combination of, means providing parallel branches of Widely difierent ampere-turns in the ignition circuit, and means for utilizing the branch of greater ampere-turns coincident with closing of the starting motor circuit, said utilizing means comprising a pair of contacts inserted in one of the branches, an electromagnet whose armature carries one of the contacts to open the same, and means for energizing the electromagnet only when the starting motor circuit is open.

'7. An electrical system for an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a current source, a starting motor circuit energized from said source, an ignition circuit energized from the same source and providing a primary path including an intermediate portion having two branches in parallel, a circuit controlling device for interrupting the primary path, a resistance in one of the parallel branches, a pair of separable contacts in the other branch, means yieldingly maintaining the contacts in engagement so as to by-pass the resistance when the starting motor circuit is closed, and means for opening the contacts when the starting motor circuit is opened and the ignition circuit is closed so as to reduce the number of ampere-turns in the ignition circuit while the engine is running.

8. An electrical system for an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a current source, a starting motor circuit energized from said source, an ignition circuit energized from the same source and providing a primary path including an intermediate portion having two branches in parallel, a circuit controlling device for interrupting the primary path, a resist ance in one of the parallel branches, a pair of separable contacts in the other branch, means yieldingly maintaining the contacts in engagement so as to by-pass the resistance when the starting motor circuit is closed, and means for opening the contacts when the starting motor circuit is opened and the ignition circuit is closed so as to reduce the number of ampere-turns in the ignition circuit while the engine is running, said 

